Refuse compactor control system

ABSTRACT

A domestic refuse compactor in which there is a powered ram reciprocated within a housing vertically in a receptacle therein for the refuse, and the ram reversal for withdrawal is controlled by either advance to a predetermined distance above the receptacle bottom or development of a given compaction force in reaction to the advance. The receptacle is laterally movable to and from the housing by a positioning carriage, with non-rigid latching of the latter in the inner position to receive the ram for slight outward yielding during compaction. A deodorizing spray is provided by a front mounted spray can, a manually operated solenoid actuator, and a spray directing fixture which causes the spray to be discharged inwardly and to the rear for injection into the receptacle while in its inner storage and compacting position.

[ Nov. 11, 1975 United States Patent 1191 Stratman et al.

[54] REFUSE COMPACTOR CONTROL SYSTEM 3,714,890 2/1973 100/229 A [75]Inventors: Jerome F. Stratman, Cypress; John 3756l5O 9/1973 Bourgeois100/229 A Novak Anaheim both of Calif Prinmn' ExaminerBilly J. WilhiteAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Donnelly, Maky, Renner & Otto [73] Assignee:The Tappan Company, Mansfield,

Ohio

[57] ABSTRACT A domestic refuse Compactor in which there is a pow- [22]Filed: Jan. 25, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 436,594

Related US Application Data ered ram reciprocated within a housingvertically in a [62] Division of sei. No. 195,991, Nov. 5, 1971, Pat.No.

receptacle therein for the refuse, and the ram reversal for withdrawalis controlled by either advance to a predetermined distance above thereceptacle bottom or development of a given compaction force in reactionto the advance. The receptacle is laterally movable to and from thehousing by a positioning carriage, with non-rigid latching of the latterin the inner position to receive the ram for slight outward yieldingduring compaction. A deodorizing spray is provided by a A 2 9 2 5 9 5973 O ,2 wm4; ;B 333 787% W 4 OHM l 0 .s O 2 0 5312 WB 0 u .9 m MA mmm9uuuz mom NCO mwmm L a UIF [56] References Cited front mounted spray can,a manually operated sole- UNITED STATES PATENTS noid actuator, and aspray directing fixture which causes the spray to be discharged inwardlyand to the rear for injection into the receptacle while in its innerstorage and compacting position.

100/52 239/274 X 100/52 100/45 100/52 X 8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures US.Patent Nov. 11, 1975 Sheetl0f3 3,918,360

U.S. Patent Nbv.11,1975 Sheet20f3 3,918,360

US. Patent Nov. 11, 1975 Sheet 3 of3 3,918,360

1 I l 5.": go: 3

g Q :QC:\ YYY\\IA sL l o&

This is a division of application Ser. No. 195,991,

filed Nov. 5, 1971, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,821,927, issued July 2, 1974.

This invention relates to an improved control system for a domesticrefuse compactor in which a ram is vertically reciprocably driven tocompact the refuse in a suitable receptacle and the latter is relativelymovable laterally for the insertion and removal of the refuse.

Such operation requires of course that the ram be fully extractable fromthe receptacle and, since the ram will preferably produce about threethousand pound pressure in maximum compaction, the receptacle must beadequately supported in the condition for the compaction. The automaticreversal of the drive of the ram in the cycle is one major area ofconcern, and the new control system provides two responses for theaction, namely, the advance of the ram to a predetermined spacing abovethe bottom of the receptacle and the development of a given resistanceor reaction force in the drive mechanism. This means that a number ofcompaction cycles and succeeding additions of refuse can be carried outbefore the unit is required to apply maximum compaction. For example,the compacting of the refuse may not be noticeable until the receptacleis more than half full, with more and more compaction then developed ineach succeeding use, and the use of the mechanism thus more efficientand proportional to the actual need.

It is also of major concern that such a domestic compactor be easy touse and reliable, with the operator most likely a housewife, and thebasic configuration calls for some form of slide structure permittingthe receptacle to be pulled from and pushed into an enclosing cabinet orhousing within which the compaction is effected and the refuse storeduntil the receptacle is to be emptied. Another primary object of thepresent invention is to provide an extremely smooth working slidemechanism for carrying the receptacle in this movement, with specialdetent means for non-rigid latching of the assembly in the insertedcondition.

Storage of the refuse in the compactor, usually within a home kitchen orutility room, has indicated the desirability of either suggesting orproviding for the application of a deodorizing or sanitizing agent, andit has been proposed that the refuse in the receptacle be sprayed withsuch material automatically, for example, in response to movement of thereceptacle between its exposed and inserted conditions. The treatingagent is naturally consumed and must be replenished so that itscontainer must be readily accessible for replacement. Moreover,automatic discharge with opening and closing or even otherwise in thecontrol cycle does accelerate the consumption of the agent, and thepresent invention provides instead a control for discharge of the samewhich is selectively operated by the user as needed or desired.

It is a related object to provide a spray discharge for a deodorizer orsanitizer which can thus be operated with-the receptacle fully insertedand yet supplied from To the accomplishment of the foregoing and relatedends the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fullydescribed and particularly pointed out in the claims, the followingdescription and the annexed drawings setting forthin detail certainillustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative,however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principle of theinvention may be employed.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view with parts removed of the refuse compactorof the invention with the receptacle shown in the refuse receivingposition;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the refuse compactor partly in cross-section;

FIG. 3 is a partialside view of the refuse compactor showing the switcharrangement in the lower rear portion thereof;

FIG. 4 is an electrical schematic drawing of the control system for therefuse compactor;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the deodorizer dispenser portion of the refusecompactor; and

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the deodorizer dispenser taken along the line6-6 of FIG. 5.

Referring now to the drawings and initially to FIGS. l-3 there is showna refuse compactor '10 comprising a housing 11 and relatively movablereceptacle assembly 12. The housing 11 is formed of side frame members13 covered by exterior side panels 14, rear panel 15, bottom plate 16,and top plate 18 supporting a wood cutting board 19. The receptacleassembly 12 includes a carriage 20 and refuse container 21, the formersupported on slides 22 for movement into and out of housing 11 between arefuse receiving position as indicated in FIG. 1 and a refuse compactingposition when fully within the housing. A front panel 24 is mounted onthe carriage 20 for movement therewith and serves to close the housing 11 when the carriage is in the trash compacting position, being then insubstantial alignment with top front control panel 25.

The carriage 20 consists of an inverted box frame having an aperture inits top wall 26 thereof adapted for receipt of the refuse container 21,the latter being of generally cylindrical configuration and supported bymeans of a peripheral ring 28 thereon, on spring supports 29 secured tothe carraige 20. A plastic bag 30 is indicated as covering the interiorof the container 21 and may be secured by means of a suitable elasticband and the like, not shown, about the cuff of the bag. Reference maybe had to our copending application Ser. No. 195,226 filed Nov. 3, 1971,now U.S. Pat. No. 3,827,352, for a more detailed showing of suchreceptacle assembly.

Further included within the housing 11 and supported by the side members13 is a shelf 31 for supporting and guiding the ram assembly indicatedgenerally at 32, an interior rear panel 34, and an interior front panel35 thereabove a short distance inside of the front of the housing. Theram assembly 32 includes the ram pressure plate 36 supported on rods 38passing through the shelf 31 and secured to a ram drive plate 39 whichis adapted to move vertically between the shelf 31 and top panel 18 ofthe housing. A drive screw 40 journalled in the shelf 31 and the toppanel 18 cooperates with a nut 41 retained in the drive plate 39 formoving the latter and thus the pressure plate 36 upwardly anddownwardly, the drive force being supplied by an electric motor 42 via abelt and pulley 44, the latter secured to the drive screw 40 forrotation thereof.

Thus as indicated in full line in FIG. 2, with the refuse container 21in the refuse compacting position the ram drive plate 39 is located justbeneath the upper panel 18 of the housing 11 and the pressure plate 36is located just beneath the shelf 31 allowing sufficient clearance forthe refuse container 21 and carriage 20 to be moved with respect to thehousing 11. In the dashed line position, the ram pressure plate 36 is atthe lowermost position with the ram drive plate 39 slightly above theshelf 31, any refuse in the container 21 thereby being compacted to thisposition. It is significant that the lowest position of the pressureplate 36 is substantially above the bottom 45 of the refuse container21, this distance being between one-fourth and one-half the overalldepth of the container 21. In a container on the order of 2 feet indepth, such dimension would be approximately 6 inches above the bottomof the container.

Such dimension is predetermined by the location of a limit switch 46having 'a leaf in the path of travel of the ram drive plate 39 and beingadjustable in elevation by means of any suitable support. A further pairof limit switches 47, 48 cooperate with the drive plate 39 for controlover the electric motor 42, these including a directional switch 47 anda top limit switch 48 having leafs in contact with the drive plate 39when the latter is at the top limit of travel.

Further included in the control system and best seen in Flg. 3 are apair of limit switches 49, 50 for sensing the location of the carriage20 and thus of the refuse container 21 in a proper position for refusecompacting purposes, such switches 49, 50 cooperating with the ends ofthe slide parts secured to the carriage 20.

The slides 22 are of known type in which cooperating channels aretelescopically interengaged on freely rolling balls for very smoothextension and return, and it is preferred that they be mounted at aslight downward inclination, on the order of /2 for example, to furtherfacilitate inward movement of the receptacle assembly. Both the heightof front panel 24, substantially to normal kitchen counter height, anduse of a relatively high and conveniently accessible handle 51 on thesame are also significant in providing the desired ease of loading andunloading the appliance.

Non-rigid latching of the assembly is realized by applying double-angledramps 52 to the tops of the slides 22 for coaction with plastic rollers53 mounted rotatably on spring arms 54 projecting rearwardly over theglides from transverse wall 34, as best shown in FIG. 3. The front orleading parts of the ramps are at a greater angle than the trailingparts, so that there is less resistance in the final movement of theclosing action. This detent mechanism, at both sides, permits thereceptacle assembly to roll outwardly to a slight extent, without lossof latching during compaction, which is desirable in view of the factthat some loading of refuse can result in a temporary outward forcebeing developed without any relief for the reactive parts when rigidlatching is employed. such limited movement will, of course, be withinthe requirement that the unit be closed as a condition to compaction.

When a sufficient amount of refuse is encountered in the container 21and the ram pressure plate 36 is unable to attain its lowermost positionand cause actuation of the bottom limit switch 46, means are providedfor reversing the direction of rotation of the drive motor 42 so as toreturn the ram to its uppermost position. Reference is made to theschematic diagram of the control system shown in FIG. 4 wherein likereference numerals are utilized to indicate like parts.

Input power is supplied at terminals 58, 59 being conventional householdpower of 120 volts 60 Hz. A circuit is established through the normallyclosed top limit switch 48, the normally closed drawer safety switches49, 50, the stop switch 60 of a start/stop rocker switch 61 and keyactuated switch 62, (the latter two switches located on the controlpanel 25 of the housing), to the main running winding 64 of the motor 42and by way of a normally closed overload switch 65 to the second powerline terminal 59. The motor 42 is preferably an induction motor of thesplit phase type having the running winding 64, a start winding 66 ofthe conventional type and an internally connected centrifugal switch 68which is of the conventional normally closed type, achieving an opencondition upon the approach of the motor to a normal running speed.

In parallel connection with the centrifugal switch 68 is the normallyopen bottom limit switch 46 which is actuated to the closed conditionwhen contacted by the drive plate 39 at the bottom of the ram stroke.The centrifugal switch 68 is connected by way of line 69 to one pole 47aof the double pole-double throw direction switch 47 the start winding 66being connected by way of a capacitor 70 to the second pole 47d of thedirection switch 47, contacts 47c, 47a of the latter being connected toone side of the power line by way of line 71, the remaining contacts47b, 49f being connected by way of line 72 indirectly to the other sideof the power line. The direction switch 47 is located for actuation atthe top of the ram stroke and is indicated in FIG. 4, and the top limitswitch 48 and the bottom limit switch 46, are in the there illustratedcondition when the drive plate 39 is at that uppermost position. Furthershown in FIG. 4 in series connection across the power line terminals 58,59 is a deodorizer solenoid 74 and a deodorizing spray push buttonswitch 75 also on the front control panel 25.

Thus in the mode of operation depicted with the drive plate 39 at itsuppermost position and with input power supplied to the start/stopswitch 61 by way of line 76 energization of the drive motor 42 may beattained by manual closure of the start switch 78, connecting therunning winding 64 and line 79 to the input terminal 58 by way of theindicated switches. Power is applied to the start winding 66 in onephase with respect to the phase occurring in the running winding 64 byway of the now closed centrifiigal switch 68 to develop a rotatingmagnetic field in the motor 42 in the conventional manner therebycausing downward movement of the drive plate 39 and pressure plate 36.Upon achieving substantial running speed the centrifugal switch 68 willbe opened to remove energization from the start winding 66, continuedrunning of the motor 42 being maintained by the energization through therunning winding 64. As the drive plate 39 moves downwardly the top limitswitch 48 will become deactuated and revert to a closed conditionestablishing the circuit through the drawer safety switches 49, 50 andthe normally closed'stop switch 60, whereupon the start switch 78 may bereleased for continued fully automatic operation. At substantially thesame time the direction reversing switch 47 will be deactuated movingthe poles 47a, 49a to the alternate positions indicated in FIG. 4,

66 by way of the now open centrifugal switch 69 and open bottom limitswitch 46.

The direction reversing switch 47 is now conditioned to supply power tothe start winding 66 of the motor 42 in an opposite sense from the sensefirst applied and upon the drive plate 39 engaging the bottom limitswitch 46 for closure of same or upon the pressure plate 36 encounteringsufficient resistance to movement due to compaction of refuse in thecontainer 21 and a subsequent slowing of the motor 42 causing closure ofthe centrifugal switch 68, a magnetic field rotating in the reversedirection will be established causing a reversal of rotation of thedrive motor 42. The ram drive plate 39 thus will be returned to theuppermost position engaging again the top limit switch 48 to removepower from the running winding 64, the start winding 66 having beenpreviously deenergized by opening of the centrifugal switch 68 andopening of the bottom limit switch 46.

It will be clear then that the reversing switch 47 conditions theenergization of the motor 42 for the desired direction of operation,reversal being initiated by closure of either the centrifugal switch 68or the bottom limit switch 46, the centrifugal switch in turn beingactuable by the removal of power through opening of the key switch 62 orstop switch 60 if manual control is necessary.

The deodorizer apparatus, as best seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, comprises thesolenoid 74 mounted on the shelf 31 just behind the interior front panel35 of the housing 11, receiving power via line 80. The support andactuating mechanism for the deodorizer is located just forward of theinterior front panel 35, communication being achieved via an aperture 81therein. A deodorant canister 82 in the form of a conventional aerosolcontainer is supported in an inverted position in a bracket 84 affixedto the panel 35, with its valve stem 85 protruding therefrom, this valvestem being actuable by a sideways movement to dispense aerosol spray bymeans of an internal valve arrangement which returns to the centralclosed position in the absence of any extraneous influence.

The valve stem 85 is inserted in an adapter 86 which comprises a nylonfitting having a flange 88 near the upper portion thereof and a pair ofaxially extending pins 89 therebelow. A length of curved flexibleplastic tubing 90 is received in the bottom portion of the adapter 86and leads through an aperture 91 in shelf 31 to a spray directingassembly located therebelow. The adapter 86 further includes a radiallyextending flange 92 which is secured to a fork link 94 by menas of acotter pin 95, the link 94 in turn secured to the plunger 96 of thesolenoid by means of a second cotter pin 97.

A support member comprising a U-shaped plastic member 98 having a lowerflange 99 secured on the shelf 31 by means of screws 100 and an upperflange 101 with slot 102 therein receives and retains the adapter 86 forlimited movement toward and away from the solenoid 74. A similar supportmember is secured beneath the shelf 31 by means of the same screwsemanating in a depending arm 104 angled in a direction to be inalignment with the center of the container 21 when the latter is in therefuse compacting position within the housing 11. A clamp 105 is securedto the support arm 104 by means of screw 106 and retains the v plastictubing therebetween for such orientation energization being preventedthrough the start winding toward thecenter of the container.

Upon actuation of the solenoid 74 the plunger 96 will be drawn towardthe right as viewed in FIG. 5 moving the adapter 86 and thus the stem 85of the deodorant container 82 by means of the fork link 94 to dispensespray through the plastic tubing 90. Upon deenergization of the solenoid74 the adapter 86 will be returned to the position indicated in FIGS. 5and 6 under the influence of the internal bias mechanism of the aerosolcontainer 82.

The spray switch 75 should preferably be actuated by the user when thereceptacle is at the refuse compacting position for best utilization ofthe treating material, and the special mounting fixture of course makesthis possible with a front location for the source. The user in this waycan determine entirely the frequency of spraying the refuse with thetreating agent, but it would be possible to make the feature automaticif desired by adding a slide actuated switch, such as switch 107 shownin dashed lines in FIG. 4, in addition to or substitution of theselective energization of the activating so- Ienoid. It will also beappreciated that the disclosed selective spray or equivalent dischargeof the deodorizing and/or sanitizing agent might be accomplishedmechanically as well as electrically by the solenoid operationdescribed.

The control system also includes protection against failure of bottomlimit switch 46 in the form of a stop I pin 108 which passesdiametrically through and has its ends projecting beyond the thread ofdrive screw 40" near the lower end of the same. It will be readilyunderstood that if the drive reaches and advances very slightly beyondthe point at which bottom limit switch 46 would normally be actuated andis not for any reason, the nut 41 will encounter the ends of pin 108and, being stopped thereby, cause a reactive reversal of the driveregardless of the load in the refuse container.

' Another type of safety may be incorporated to insure that the unitcannot fully execute a compaction stroke in the absence of the refusecontainer 21. This additional precaution against improper use isrealized by provision of an additional switch 109 in the normal drivecircuit, in series with switches 50-52 as shown in FIG. 4, having anactuating spring biased plunger 1 10 which projects from interior rearwall 34 for engagement with, and switch closing pushing by, thecontainer 21 as the latter is moved to the closed condition forcompaction. The compacting drive cannot therefore normally begin unlessthere is a container in place to receive the ram, and it is significantthat plunger 110 is located to be engaged by the top portion of thecontainer, so that any inadvertent closing agency operating the samewithout the receptacle in place would be dislodged early in the downwardstroke to terminate operation. Switch 109 could also be located in thecontrol circuit beyond switch 61 for comparable influence.

It should also be noted, for completeness, that the resilient support ofthe container for the refuse in the movable carriage by the springs asdescribed permits the container to be forced in the compacting positionsufficiently downwardly to be supported in this power operation on thebottom of the appliance, the bottom of the carriage being open for thepurpose and the slides therefore not being required to withstand any ofthe compaction pressure. Nevertheless, when the pressure is removed andthe ram withdrawn, the springs lift the container enough for the bottomclearance needed for the carriage to be withdrawn. This basic type ofsupport is shown not only in our aforesaid copending application, but inour still earlier application Ser. No. 112,138 filed Feb. 3, 1971, nowUS. Pat. No. 3,741,108, issued June 26, 1973.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. In a refuse compactor having a receptacle, means mounting saidreceptacle for movement between refuse receiving and refuse compactingpositions and a ram reciprocable into and out of said receptacle in therefuse compacting position by means of an electric motor, means forcontrolling the direction of rotation of said motor and thus thedirection of movement of said ram, first switch means for supplyingenergization to said motor and said direction controlling means, saidfirst switch means being actuated when said ram is fully withdrawn fromsaid receptacle, second switch means actuated in response to substantialslowing of said motor due to reaction force of refuse upon said ram toreverse the direction of rotation of said motor and withdraw said ramfrom said receptacle, and third switch means for reversing rotation ofthe motor in response to advance of the ram to a predetermined distanceabove the bottom of the receptacle.

2. A refuse compactor as set forth in claim 1, wherein said secondswitch means comprises a centrifugal switch coupled to said motor.

3. A refuse compactor as set forth in claim 2, wherein said third switchmeans is a normally open limit switch in parallel connection with saidcentrifugal switch for overriding operation of the latter when said ramattains such predetermined position within said receptacle.

4. A refuse compactor as set forth in claim 1, further including adeodorizer dispensing means for injecting deodorant into said receptaclewhen the latter is in or substantially in closed condition, and meansfor actuating said dispensing means.

5. A refuse compactor as set forth in claim 4, wherein said actuatingmeans comprises a manual operating member.

6. A refuse compactor as set forth in claim 5, wherein said actuatingmeans further comprises solenoid means energized by the manual operatingmember to produce discharge of the deodorant.

7. A refuse compactor as set forth in claim 1, wherein said third switchmeans is positioned to effect such reverse motor rotation when said ramhas been moved into said receptacle a distance within a range of fromabout one-half to about three-fourths of the overall depth of saidreceptacle.

8. A refuse compactor as set forth in claim 7, wherein said distance isabout three-fourths of the overall depth of said receptacle.

1. In a refuse compactor having a receptacle, means mounting saidreceptacle for movement between refuse receiving and refuse compactingpositions and a ram reciprocable into and out of said receptacle in therefuse compacting position by means of an electric motor, means forcontrolling the direction of rotation of said motor and thus thedirection of movement of said ram, first switch means for supplyingenergization to said motor and said direction controlling means, saidfirst switch means being actuated when said ram is fully withdrawn fromsaid receptacle, second switch means actuated in response to substantialslowing of said motor due to reaction force of refuse upon said ram toreverse the direction of rotation of said motor and withdraw said ramfrom said receptacle, and third switch means for reversing rotation ofthe motor in response to advance of the ram to a predetermined distanceabove the bottom of the receptacle.
 2. A refuse compactor as set forthin claim 1, wherein said second switch means comprises a centrifugalswitch coupled to said motor.
 3. A refuse compactor as set forth inclaim 2, whereIn said third switch means is a normally open limit switchin parallel connection with said centrifugal switch for overridingoperation of the latter when said ram attains such predeterminedposition within said receptacle.
 4. A refuse compactor as set forth inclaim 1, further including a deodorizer dispensing means for injectingdeodorant into said receptacle when the latter is in or substantially inclosed condition, and means for actuating said dispensing means.
 5. Arefuse compactor as set forth in claim 4, wherein said actuating meanscomprises a manual operating member.
 6. A refuse compactor as set forthin claim 5, wherein said actuating means further comprises solenoidmeans energized by the manual operating member to produce discharge ofthe deodorant.
 7. A refuse compactor as set forth in claim 1, whereinsaid third switch means is positioned to effect such reverse motorrotation when said ram has been moved into said receptacle a distancewithin a range of from about one-half to about three-fourths of theoverall depth of said receptacle.
 8. A refuse compactor as set forth inclaim 7, wherein said distance is about three-fourths of the overalldepth of said receptacle.